SMa.r.t. Column: Politics as Usual
Friday, October 11, 2019, was a warm, pleasant day in the Bay Area town of Newark, California. Midday temps were in the mid-70s, but the folks working in the office of a local attorney were […]
SMa.r.t. Column: SMMUSD’s Financial Performance and Underlying Issues
There has been much discussion regarding the SMMUSD’s financial performance. The Board recently issued a statement noting that they have “Fortified our financial reserves, balanced our budget and Improved our credit rating.” All good things. […]
SMa.r.t. Column: History Repeats Itself
Santa Monicans today understand there is a titanic struggle going on for the heart and soul of their City. And it’s not the first time this has happened. The battle manifests itself in infinite ways […]
SMa.r.t. Column: Santa Monica’s Precarious Business Plan
As the City’s budget season gets underway, it is helpful to step back from the minutiae of an annual process and reflect on the emerging financial trends from City management decisions that will impact the […]
Time for the School District to Adopt 20th Century Capital Project Financial Reporting
There has been significant confusion and debate surrounding the financial performance of the many SMMUSD facilities projects. The absence of clear and accessible financial performance reporting is the cause. The issue is not just […]
SMa.r.t. Column: The City of Santa Monica Monica – “Progressive” in 1989, “Chaotic” in 2021
The STATE of our CITY Are we to be a city of gardens, recreation, the arts, with courtyard housing and boulevards as linear parks. Can we turn our boulevards into parkways or will our downtown […]
Zapped! A Promising Proposal Bites the Dust
Santa Monica has long touted its credentials as a “green” city, always in earnest pursuit of solutions to ongoing environmental problems. Back in 2017 the City introduced the Electric Vehicle Action Plan. The intent was […]
SMa.r.t. Column: SB 9 &10 Doom R1 Districts
Like zombies that refuse to die, every year Scott Weiner, the California Senator from San Francisco, comes up with new bills to wreck our City and State. His latest incarnations are SB 9 and SB10. […]
A Field of Dreams: Realized
It is finally here, it is beautiful, and it is a testament to tenacity. The new field at the Civic Center is an example of how a number of individuals with no official support, budget, […]
SMa.r.t. Column: Texas Comes to SMMUSD
Last week Texas suffered a dramatic blow out between the loss of power and the related water system collapse caused by climate change. Just to be clear, climate change includes a relentless increase in average […]
Meals on Wheels West LA Urgently Seeks Holiday Volunteers for Meal Deliveries
Brentwood-Based Program Needs Help Delivering Meals During the Holidays Meals on Wheels West Los Angeles is urgently seeking additional volunteers to...
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Housing Group Sues State Over Limits on Post-Wildfire Rebuilding in L.A. County
YIMBY Law Challenges Governor’s Order Allowing Cities to Restrict SB 9 Housing in High Fire Hazard Zones The housing advocacy...
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